Thermal behavior of bismaleimide resin

The cure of a bismaleimide (BMI) neat resin modified with an aromatic diamine and a siloxane elastomer, has been studied by ¹³C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. Two chemical reactions occur during the cure cycle; at a low temperature, Michael's reaction predominates, while at a high temperature the polymerization of the double bond maleimide creates the network. The degradation of this BMI material was characterized with isothermal and dynamic thermogravimetric analyses in air and in nitrogen. The BMI thermal stability is lower in nitrogen than in air. This behavior is an indication of oxygen participating in reactions at high temperatures. The activation energy (E_a) of thermal degradation was determined from isothermal data using an Arrhenius equation (In V vs. 1/T). The global E_a for the weight loss in air was found to be 91 kJ/mol. The nature and the evolution of the thermal degradation products were the combined analyzed by techniques of pyrolysis, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The major thermal decomposition products obtained in the temperature range of 300–700°C are identified as benzene, methyl formamide, aniline, toluene and isocyanate-derived products.     

Crystal structure of 1-hydroxy-1,2,3-benzotriazolium diphenyl phosphate reveals strong NHO and OHO hydrogen bonds

The structure of 1-hydroxy-1,2,3-benzotriazolium diphenyl phosphate (HOBt/DPP) has been investigated by X-ray analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with Z = 4 and the following lattice parameters: a = 11.711(2), b = 12.727(2) and c = 12.794(3) Å, β = 105.12(2)°, V = 1840.9(6) ų. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined on F² to R values of wR2 = 0.084 and R1 = 0.034 for 1985 observed reflections. HOBt/DPP has an ionic structure with very short OHO and NHO hydrogen bonds linking the different ions. Owing to these hydrogen bonds, infinite screw-shaped chains which are twisted parallel to the y-axis are formed.     

Thermal Decomposition of Bi(III), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) Thiocyanates

Thermal decomposition of Bi(SCN)₃, Cd(SCN)₂, Pb(SCN)₂ and Cu(SCN)₂ has been studied. The thermal analysis curves and the diffraction patterns of the solid intermediate and final products of the pyrolysis are presented. The gaseous products of the decomposition (SO₂ and CO₂) were detected and quantitatively determined. Thermal, X-ray and chemical analyses have been used to establish the nature of the reactions occurring at each stage in the decomposition.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

2-Polyfluoroalkylchromones. 9. Synthesis and structures of 5-(2-hydroxyaryl)-7-polyfluoroalkyl-1,4,8-triazabicyclo[5.3.0]dec-4-enes

2-Polyfluoroalkylchromones reacted with diethylenetriamine at 20 °C to form the corresponding 1,4,8-triazabicyclo[5.3.0]dec-4-ene derivatives. The crystal structures of 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-7-trifluoromethyl-1,4,8-triazabicyclo[5.3.0]dec-4-ene and 1-(2-aminoethyl)-7-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,4-diazepine were established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Rapid liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of withanolides in crude plant extracts by use of a monolithic column

Summary A rapid analytical method has been developed for the mutual resolution of three steroidal compounds, withaferin A, iochromolide, and withacnistin. Liquid chromatography was performed on a Chromolith analytical column (4.6 mm i.d.×50 mm), made from a cylindrical silica rod, operated at a flow rate of 4 mL min⁻¹ with a simple linear gradient prepared from 0.1% aqueous formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Under optimum conditions simultaneous separation of the compounds was achieved in less than 7 min, one eighth the time required for conventional LC separation. The overall analysis time was reduced without sacrificing chromatographic performance—essential for the resolution of positional isomers such as iochromolide and withacnistin. The column was coupled to a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer and the method was characterized by good performance in terms of repeatability, selectivity, linearity, and sensitivity. Detection limits in the single-ion-monitoring mode were 0.15 μg mL⁻¹ or below. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of withanolides in extracts fromlochroma gesnerioides obtained by three different processes—traditional Soxhlet extraction and two faster methods, microwave-assisted extraction and pressurized solvent extraction.     

Time-resolved fluorescence analysis of the mobile flavin cofactor in p -hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase

Conformational heterogeneity of the FAD cofactor in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was investigated with time-resolved polarized flavin fluorescence. For binary enzyme/substrate (analogue) complexes of wild-type PHBH and Tyr222 mutants, crystallographic studies have revealed two distinct flavin conformations; the ‘in’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring located in the active site, and the ‘out’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring disposed towards the protein surface. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis of these complexes revealed similar lifetime distributions for the ‘in’ and ‘out’ conformations. The reason for this is twofold. First, the active site of PHBH contains various potential fluorescence-quenching sites close to the flavin. Fluorescence analysis of uncomplexed PHBH Y222V and Y222A showed that Tyr222 is responsible for picosecond fluorescence quenching free enzyme. In addition, other potential quenching sites, including a tryptophan and two tyrosines involved in substrate binding, are located nearby. Since the shortest distance between these quenching sites and the isoalloxazine ring differs only little on average, these aromatic residues are likely to contribute to fluorescence quenching. Second, the effect of flavin conformation on the fluorescence lifetime distribution is blurred by binding of the aromatic substrates: saturation with aromatic substrates induces highly efficient fluorescence quenching. The flavin conformation is therefore only reflected in the small relative contributions of the longer lifetimes.     

The reactions of 2-benzoylpyridine with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] and [(C6H6)RuCl2]2

The reactions of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃] and [(C₆H₆)RuCl₂]₂ with 2-benzoylpyridine have been examined, and two novel ruthenium(II) complexes – [RuCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(C₅H₄NCOO)] and [RuCl₂(C₁₂H₉NO)₂] – have been obtained. The compounds have been studied by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The molecular orbital diagrams of the complexes have been calculated with the density functional theory (DFT) method. The spin-allowed singlet–singlet electronic transitions of the compounds have been calculated with the time-dependent DFT method, and the UV–Vis spectra of the compounds have been discussed on this basis.     

Conformational studies of soluble and immobilized frog epidermis tyrosinase by fluorescence

Fluorescence spectra and soluble quenching of intrinsic protein fluorescence were used as indexes of conformational changes suffered by frog epidermis tyrosinase. The activation process and the immobilization of the enzyme involving either free amino groups or its carbohydrate moiety were studied. The conformational changes resulting from denaturation of each one of the protein derivatives, as well as the effect of active center copper extraction, were followed by fluorescence studies. The results showed that: (a) both activation and immobilization were accompanied by conformational changes of the protein leading to more unfolded states; (b) neither enzyme nor immobilized enzyme were fully unfolded upon denaturation although enzymic activity was lost; (c) the enzyme immobilized through its carbohydrate moiety was more unfolded upon denaturation than the enzyme immobilized through amino groups, thus pointing to a higher conformational stabilization in the last situation; and (d), that tryptophyl residues moved to a localization near the active site upon activation.     

Functionalization of the macropolyhedral borate anion cluster [B22H22]: isolation and characterization of the OH and OEt derivatives

Preparation and characterization of the first derivatives of the fused macropolyhedral anion [B₂₂H₂₂]²⁻ are reported. The species [B₂₂H₂₁OH]²⁻ (1) and [B₂₂H₂₁OEt]²⁻ (2) are obtained from workup of the products of the reaction between HgBr₂ and [NBzlEt₃]₂[B₂₂H₂₂]; a cluster involving the conjoining of a closo-B₁₂ icosahedron with a nido-B₁₀ cluster. Washing the products with ethanol followed by thin-layer chromatography allows the isolation of 1 and 2, reproducibly, in yields of 27 and 20%, respectively. The species were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. The crystal structure determinations of the two species identify novel features. Apparently the influence of the O atoms in the ions [B₂₂H₂₁OH]²⁻ and [B₂₂H₂₁OEt]²⁻ results in the lengthening of what was a gunwale B---B connection adjacent to the junction of the two cages such that the distances are 2.180 and 2.230 Å, respectively. These latter are longer than the corresponding distance in the parent species [B₂₂H₂₂]²⁻, which is 2.09 Å; quite long for a normal B---B distance. Thus it is assumed that these B atoms, in 1 and 2, one of which bears the substituent, are not bonded to each other.     

Alkylidinphosphane und -arsane. I [P ≡ C?S]−[Li(dme)3]+ – Synthese und Struktur

Alkylidynephosphanes and -arsanes. I [P ≡ C? S]^?[Li(dme)₃]⁺ – Synthesis and Structure O,O′-Diethyl thiocarbonate and bis(tetrahydrofuran)-lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, react below 0°C to give ethoxy trimethylsilane and tris(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithium 2λ³-phosphaethynylsulfanide – [P≡C? S]^? [Li(dme)₃]⁺ – ( 1a ). Apart from bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfane or carbon oxide sulfide, dark red concentrated solutions of λ³-phosphaalkyne 1 are also obtained from reactions of carbon disulfide with bis(tetrahydrofuran)-lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide or with the homologous lithoxy-methylidynephosphane ( 2 ) [1]. The ir spectrum shows two absorptions at 1762 and 747 cm^?1 characteristic for the P≡C and C? S stretching vibrations. The nmr parameters {δ(³¹P) ? 121.3; δ(¹³C) 190.8 ppm; ¹J_CP 18.2 Hz} resemble much more values of diorganylamino-2λ³-phosphaalkynes than those of bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithoxy-methylidyne-phosphane ( 2a ). As found by an X-ray structure analysis (P2₁/c; a = 1192.6(16); b = 1239.1(19); c = 1414.8(26) pm; β = 105.91(13)° at ?100 ± 3°C; Z = 4 formula units; wR = 0.064) of pale yellow crystals (mp. + 16°C) isolated from the reaction with O,O′-diethyl thiocarbonate, the solid is built up of separate [P≡C? S]^? and [Li(dme)₃]⁺ ions. Typical bond lengths and angles are: P≡C 155.5(11); C? S 162.0(11); Li? O 206.4(17) to 220.3(20) pm; P≡C? S 178.9(7)°.